Priests’ Retirement Report Summary Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester March 31, 2020 A Bishop’s Canonical Obligation to Retired Priests • Canon 538 §3: o A parish priest who has completed his seventy fifth year of age is requested to offer his resignation from office to the diocesan Bishop who, after considering all the circumstances of person and place, is to decide whether to accept or defer it. Having taken account of the norms laid down by the Episcopal Conference, the diocesan Bishop must make provision for the appropriate maintenance and residence of the priest who has resigned. • Norms for Priests and Their Third Age: o Each Diocese should guarantee that priests be given adequate support through a long-range, financially independent, and professionally managed pension fund. In addition, the priest should bear in mind responsible stewardship of his own resources. Participation in the social security system as well as IRA’s (sic) or other forms of savings is considered an essential element of this stewardship. 2 FOCUS • To review: o the suitability and sustainability of benefits o the means for the funding of those benefits • Subcommittees o Benefits o Revenue 3 Committee Members • Monsignor Thomas Sullivan • Monsignor Michael Rose • Monsignor Francis Scollen • Father Daniel Mulcahy • Father Edward Niccolls • Father Dennis O’Brien • Sister Mary Ann Bartell, CSE • Mr. Richard Fournier • Mr. Paul Schasel • Mr. Frederick Randall • Father Richard Reidy 4 Current Profile (March 31, 2020) • Retirees in Good Standing 51 • Retirement Age 75 • Active Priests 121 • Active Priests over 75 6 • Number of Active Priests who 42 will turn 75 by 2029 • Average Age of Active Priests 55.9 (As of September 1, 2019) • Average Age of Retirees 79.7 5 Current Retirement Benefits Stipend $2,233/month Health Insurance (Priests contribute $840/year) $6,000/year UNUM Long-Term Care Basic Policy*: - LTC (after 60 days) $3,000/month - Assisted Living $1,800/month - Home Care $1,500/month - Lifetime Benefit $72,000 Independent Living - Personal Home $360/month - Rectories $0-600/month - Colony Home $1,000/month - Southgate $1,500/month Assisted Living** $6-7,000/month Nursing Home (first 60 days) ≈$12,000/month Retreats/Assemblies *A priest can opt to pay greater coverage. ** Monthly stipend reduced to $100/month 6 Annual Cost of Current Benefits: FY19 Year End Stipends $1,420,085 Health Insurance (Diocesan Share) 325,049 UNUM Policy (Diocesan Share) 101,668 Independent Living - Personal Homes [counted with stipend total] - Rectories 8,600 - Southgate/Colony 196,732 Assisted Living & Nursing Home 573,833 Retreats/Assemblies 2,577 Actuarial Evaluation Cost (USI) 14,500 1 Total $2,643,044 1 This total is $250,000 less than what is reported for priest retirement expenses on the FY2019 Diocesan Annual Report, apparently due to accounting requirements involved with the transfer of restricted funds. 7 Operating Revenue for Priests’ Retirement Income FY2015 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018 FY2019 Partners in Charity $550,000 $550,000 $550,000 $550,000 $550,000 Celebrate Priesthood - 280,000 191,520 225,000 145,000 Contributions: Individual $4,723 7,788 12,791 361,960 27,421 Contributions: Bequests - 342,544 274,986 133,571 85,020 Priest Ret. Assess.1 393,250 398,666 383,500 386,750 376,188 Custodial Care Assess.2 335,958 335,348 328,320 326,317 322,208 UNUM LTC Assess.3 48,098 46,041 43,539 42,059 37,876 Dividend/Interest Income 24,793 16,675 110,886 50,354 58,615 Other Income - $60 - - - Total Income: $1,356,822 $1,977,122 $1,895,542 $2,076,011 $1,602,328 Year-on-Year Change $ n/a $620,300 ($81,580) $180,469 ($473,683) Year-on-Year Change % n/a 45.7% -4.1% 9.5% -22.8% 1$3,350 per active priest, paid by parish or Diocese 2$2,750 per active priest, paid by parish or Diocese 3Various amounts paid by priests based on age, benefit election, etc. 8 Restricted Funds and Target Distribution Restricted Funds Balance as of Ann. Annual 8/31/19 Dist. Distribution Rate Amount Forward in Faith: Priest $5,193,733 4.0% $207,749 Retirement Msgr. Griffin Fund: 9,483,692 4.0% 379,348 Investment Msgr. Griffin Fund: DEF 141,024 4.0% 5,641 Priest Retirement Fund 323,031 4.0% 12,921 Retired Priest Residence 595,790 4.0% 23,832 Fund Current: $15,737,270 $629,491 9 Priests’ Retirement FY19 Summary Expenses $2, 643, 044 Operating Revenue 1, 602, 328 Operating Deficit 1, 040, 716 - Restricted Funds (transfer 4% Target 629, 491 Distribution) - Excess Costs over Operating Revenue 411, 225 and 4% Target Distribution • With 42 additional retirements over the next 10 years we must balance expenses and revenues for the sake of sustainability. 10 Recommendations: General 1. Actuarial Calculations: a. Before implementing any recommendations, have USI calculate: i. the cost of each recommendation ii. the number of priests who will be over the age of 75 for each of the next 30 years 2. Ordained Ministry outside of Diocesan Jurisdiction and Leaves of Absence: a. If retirement benefits have accrued for such ministry, e.g. Military or Hospital chaplaincies or teaching positions, Diocesan benefits are reduced. b. Clarity about possible reduction in retirement benefits is necessary before permission for extended personal leaves of absence. 3. Ministry to Retired Priests: a. Gratefully continue to support the ministry of Sister Mary Ann and, in the future, continue such support and service. 4. Retirement Planning: a. Make available appropriate professionals to our priests at the beginning of their priesthood and appropriate intervals. 5. Retirement Committee: a. A permanent committee should monitor and make recommendations on appropriate stipends and benefits . 11 Recommendations: Benefits 6. Housing Allowances a. Eliminate housing allowances. Raise monthly stipend to $2,600 per month. 7. Southgate a. Retain as residence for frail priests not yet in need of assisted living. b. Except for current residents, eliminate the $1,500/month stipends for Southgate residents. c. If frail priests cannot afford Southgate from their $2,600 monthly stipend, social security check, applicable UNUM benefits and personal assets, the Diocese, after a review of need, will provide support. 8. Other Independent Housing Options: a. Family b. Personal homes or apartments including Southgate (without assistance for frail priests in financial need) or rectory. c. Diocese should explore Colony Home and Goddard House as options for Independent Living. 12 Recommendations: Benefits (Cont’d) 9. Assisted Living: a. Priests retain monthly stipend and pay for assisted living out of that stipend, social security check, applicable UNUM benefits, personal assets and government assistance. If such is insufficient, the Diocese, after a review of need, will provide support or alternate residence. 10. Nursing Home a. The Diocese will assist with placement. Payment from priest monthly stipend, social security check, applicable UNUM benefits, personal assets and governmental assistance. The Diocese will temporarily advance one months cost if necessary to secure suitable placement when personal assets are inaccessible. 11. Grandfathering a. Priests currently living at Southgate, Notre Dame, in Independent or Assisted Living shall not be affected by these recommendations. 12. Recovery Housing: a. The Diocese should provide a place for priests recovering from complex surgeries or medical issues until they are able to return to their Parish assignment or retirement dwelling. 13 Recommendations: Revenue 13. Priest Retirement Savings: a. Institute funding vehicle for younger priests, e.g. age 35, to which the priests and possibly their Parish/Department would make monthly contributions. 14. Second collection: a. An annual second collection to support priest retirement ought to be taken throughout the diocese. 15.Assessments: a. Over time, significantly increase parish and department assessments for priest retirement, possibly with wealthier parishes sharing a greater portion. Alternatively, an increase in the cathedraticum to fund priest retirement might be more equitable to poor parishes. 16.Bequests and Gifts: a. Continue to promote bequests and gifts among priests and laity. 17. Legacy of Hope: a. Emphasize the critical importance of Legacy of Hope. 14 Additional Retirement Funds and Income if Legacy of Hope is Successful Restricted Funds Balance as of Annual Annual 8/31/19 Distribution Distribution Rate Amount Current Total: $15,737,270 $629,491 Legacy of Hope $12,000,000 4.0% $480,000 Projected $27,737, 270 $1,109,491 15 Disparity of Benefits Due to Varying Monthly Housing Allowances for Independent Living St. St. George, Holy Private Southgate Mary's, Bl. Sacrament, Colony Family Residence Uxbridge St. Anne Salary/m $2,233 $2,233 $2,233 $2,233 $1,727 $2,233 Additional $1,500 $200 $0 $600.00 $1,000 $360 Diocesan Payments/m Benefits for SS Check SS Check SS Check SS SS Check SS Check Priests: Check Meals Meals Meals House House House Keeping Keeping Keeping Total $3,733.00 $2,433.00 $2,233.00 $2,833.00 $2,727.00 $2,593.00 Benefits: 16 .